Indoor golf putting training apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided is an indoor golf putting training apparatus, which includes a golf putting pad, a target block, an effective target portion, and a stand-alone erect mirror. The golf putting pad has a flat and extensive surface, which including a first golf putting reference point which is formed at the rear side of a virtual golf putting line in the lengthy direction, a collimating point which is formed on the virtual golf putting line at the front of the first golf putting reference point, a collimating line which connects the first golf putting reference point and the collimating point, and a second golf putting reference point which is formed at the rear side of the first golf putting reference point in order to perform a high-level golf putting operation. The target block made of a hard material is installed at the most leading position of the virtual golf putting line on the golf putting pad. The effective target portion made of a sound absorption material is installed at the central portion of the target surface of the target block. The stand-alone erect mirror is located at the front line of the golf putting pad.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0104092, filed on Oct. 25, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an indoor golf putting training apparatus, and more particularly, to an indoor golf putting training apparatus which has an appropriate structure of training a golfer to forward a golf ball straightly to a target point on a flat and extensive golf putting mat, in order to maximize a success probability of a short-distance golf putting shot of a near distance (about 2 m or so) during golf putting.

2. Description of the Related Art

A golf shot is largely divided into two kinds in a golf game. The first kind of the golf shot is a shot which needs a big swing using a driver, a wood club, an iron club, etc., and which is performed on a fairway. The second kind of the golf shot is a soft and exquisite shot which is performed on the surroundings of a golf putting green or on a golf putting green, and which is done in a short-distance golf game that uses a golfer's confined muscle and requires a strong spiritual strength. In order to obtain a good score in a golf game, all shots are important but in particular a success rate of a short-distance golf putting shot within 1 m 50 cm should be heightened. Success or failure in a short-distance golf putting shot does not only make a big influence on a tee shot of the next hole, but also becomes a decisive factor in the result of the golf game. Accordingly, every and each golfer should master know-how through a systematic and efficient practice at ordinary times and keep a golf putting sense continuously.

The most important point in a short-distance golf putting technology is an ability of sending a golf ball exactly straightly to a desired point in place by a golfer who plays golf putting. Most amateur golfers and some professional golfers may fail in sending a golf ball exactly by a putter to a desired point in place. Most amateur golfers lack a basic ability of sending a golf ball softly straightly to a target point, respectively. Some of professional tour golf players have an ability of sending a golf ball softly straightly to a target point, respectively, but since the muscles of the golf players' bodies are overstrained because of an oppressive feeling on a success of a short-distance golf putting operation, a yipe phenomenon that a golfer hesitates and taps on a golf ball suddenly may occur. If a golfer fails in a short-distance golf putting operation due to lack of confidence, he or she may shaken spiritually to thereby often spoil the golf game.

Therefore, in order for a golfer to be good at golf putting, he or she should have a firm pride as well as an ability of always sending a golf ball straightly to a desired point in place within 200 cm at a flat and extensive field that is not inclined. For this purpose, an golf putting training apparatus that can be always simply conveniently used while certainly securing an effect of enhancing a golfer's confidence on a golf putting operation. However, it is not possible for golf trainees to efficiently do a golf putting practice in a current indoor golf practice facility. Most of commercialized putting training apparatuses are implemented into a circumstance similar to a golf putting green in a real golf playing course, and focused on only a practice which trains a trainee golfer to be adapted to a real golf playing situation. Only golfers who have already mastered basic know-how on golf putting may receive a substantial assistance from an existing training apparatus. Golfers who have not already mastered basic know-how on golf putting may learn a bad habit or attitude of a real shot in playing a golf game, to accordingly waste only time or cause an adverse effect. Moreover, the circumstance of a golf putting green differs in its feature with the morning or afternoon of the day even in an identical green and according to the length of the grass. In addition, the circumstance of a golf putting green differs according to a rainy day and a windy day. In particular, since there are various kinds of grass in a golf playing green, it is difficult to form such various kinds of golf putting green environments in the conventional golf training apparatus. Even if the conventional golf training apparatus may be realized to have various kinds of golf putting green environments, they may not be helpful for trainee golfers who play a real golf playing game in real golf playing greens which have various kinds of grass. Further, some of existing golf training apparatuses which enable trainee golfers to learn a basic technology are in pursuit of too theoretical points, or are focused on making a hole cup or only collecting a golf ball to be returned. As a result, the existing golf training apparatuses have become golf putting practice mats differing from the real situation, which provide a low value in a practical use. Further, some training apparatuses are coarse or complex, which may be treated as disgust facilities and provide a problem of a high price.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above problems of the conventional art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an indoor golf putting training apparatus whose structure is simple and installation and removal is easy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an indoor golf putting training apparatus which goes well even if it is installed in any indoor places since it is made of the similar or same material to or as that of a building material, to thereby provide an interior ornamental decoration.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an indoor golf putting training apparatus having a flat and extensive golf putting pad, which enables trainee golfers to learn the most basic ability of accurately sending a golf ball to a target pint in place on a flat and extensive field which is not inclined among various golf putting technologies.

To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, there is provided an indoor golf putting training apparatus comprising:

a golf putting pad having a flat and extensive surface, which comprises: a first golf putting reference point which is formed at the rear side of a virtual golf putting line in the lengthy direction; a collimating point which is formed on the virtual golf putting line at the front of the first golf putting reference point; a collimating line which connects the first golf putting reference point and the collimating point; and a second golf putting reference point which is formed at the rear side of the first golf putting reference point in order to perform a high-level golf putting operation;

a target block made of a hard material, which is installed at the most leading position of the virtual golf putting line on the golf putting pad;

an effective target portion made of a sound absorption material, which is installed at the central portion of the target surface of the target block; and

a stand-alone erect mirror which is located at the front line of the golf putting pad.

Preferably but not necessarily, the golf putting pad is made of a PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) material which is used as a laminated floor paper.

Preferably but not necessarily, the target block is made of nature wood, and the effective target portion is made of a fabric material.

Preferably but not necessarily, the lower end portion on the front surface of the target block is chamfered.

Preferably but not necessarily, the mirror is erect by a mount support stand.

Preferably but not necessarily, the distance from the most leading end of the golf putting pad to the first golf putting reference point is 2 m-2 m 10 cm, the length of the collimating line is 20 cm-30 cm, and the distance from the first golf putting reference point to the second golf putting reference point is 60 cm.

Preferably but not necessarily, when the collimating line and the first and second golf putting reference points are discolored or erased, a restoring line which is a reference line for restoring the collimating line and the first and second golf putting reference points into the original states is formed at the most leading position of the virtual golf putting line and the last position of the virtual golf putting line, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an indoor golf putting training apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining details of a golf putting pad which is used in the indoor golf putting training apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining an installed state of the indoor golf putting training apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An indoor golf putting training apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an indoor golf putting training apparatus according to the present invention includes a golf putting pad 10, a target block 20 and a mirror 30 largely.

The golf putting pad 10 is made of a PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) material which is used as a laminated floor paper. Since the surface of the floor paper is slippery, a golf ball may be slipped on the floor paper. Considering a phenomenon of making a golf ball slipped due to the slippery feature of the golf putting pad 10 made of the floor paper, the golf putting pad 10 is preferably made of a floor paper whose surface is not too slippery but has a proper surface roughness which may cause a frictional force with respect to a golf ball.

In addition, the center-line of lengthy direction on the upper surface of the golf putting pad 10 is determined as a virtual golf putting line 11 (which is shown in a one-point-chain-line in the drawings but is not drawn in an actual product). A first golf putting reference point 12 at which golf putting beginners (amateur golfers) put a golf ball is formed at the rear side of the virtual golf putting line 11. In addition, a collimating point 16 is formed on the virtual golf putting line 11 at the front of the first golf putting reference point 12. A collimating line 13 which connects the first golf putting reference point 12 and the collimating point 16 is formed on the golf putting pad 10. Accordingly, a problem of scattering a golfer's gaze which may be caused by making a golfer gaze at a target point in place and a golf ball during golf putting practice is solved. That is, the indoor golf putting training apparatus according to the present invention makes trainee golfers foster a habit of fixing a gaze at the collimating point 16, to thereby prevent an amateur golfer's head-up operation. In addition, the present invention makes trainee golfers foster a basic ability of collimating a golf putting direction without seeing a target point in place. The collimating line 16 becomes a direction guide of a practice stroke and an actual putting stroke.

In addition, a second golf putting reference point 14 is formed at the rear side of the first golf putting reference point 12 of the virtual golf putting line 11 for professional golfers. Since the second golf putting reference point 14 is farther than the first golf putting reference point 12 from a target block 20 to be described later, the present invention enables professional golfers to perform a high-level golf putting operation unlike amateur golfers.

In addition, when the collimating line 13, the collimating point 16 and the first and second golf putting reference points 12 and 14 are discolored or erased, a restoring line 15 which is a reference line for restoring the collimating line 13, the collimating point 16 and the first and second golf putting reference points 12 and 14 into the original states is formed at the most leading position of the virtual golf putting line 11 and the last position of the virtual golf putting line 11, respectively. Since the collimating line 13, the collimating point 16 and the first and second golf putting reference points 12 and 14 are represented on the operational surface of the golf putting pad 10, they may be discolored, dimmed or erased when used for a long time. In this case, the restoring lines 15 are used to restore the markings of the collimating line 13, the collimating point 16 and the first and second golf putting reference points 12 and 14. Accordingly, a service life of the indoor golf putting training apparatus can be extended.

Meanwhiles, the full length (length from “a” to “b” of FIG. 2) of the golf putting pad 10 is 300 cm. The distance l₁ from the most leading end “a” of the golf putting pad 10 to the first golf putting reference point 12 is preferably 2 m-2 m 10 cm. This indoor golf putting training apparatus aims at maximizing a success probability of a short-distance golf putting shot of a near distance, in particular, within 150 cm during golf putting in a golf playing game. In order to ordinarily succeed in a short-distance golf putting shot of 150 cm, golfers preferably have an ability of sending a golf ball straightly to a desired point in place at a distance of about 200 cm. Accordingly, the distance l₁ from the most leading end “a” of the golf putting pad 10 to the first golf putting reference point 12 is preferably set as 2 m-2 m 10 cm.

In addition, the length l₂ of the collimating line 13 becomes 20-30 cm. In the case that the length of the collimating line 13 is 20 cm or below, the length l₂ of the collimating line 13 is too short, and thus it is difficult for a trainee golfer to strike a golf ball accurately along the collimating line 13 during golf putting. In the case that the length of the collimating line 13 is 30 cm or above, the collimating point 16 is not seen at a golfer's gaze to thereby drop concentration of the golfer's gaze. That is, the length of the collimating line 13 which is 20 cm or below or 30 cm or above makes a bad influence upon an accuracy of golf putting. Thus, the length of the collimating line 13 is set in the range of 20-30 cm.

In addition, the distance l₃ between the first golf putting reference point 12 and the second golf putting reference point 14 is made to maintain a distance of 50-60 cm. The putting distances of the amateur golfers and professional golfers differ from each other.

The target block 20 is a device which corresponds to a hole cup which is formed on a putting green in a real golf field. The target block 20 is fixedly installed at the most leading position of the virtual golf putting line 11 on the golf putting pad 10, and becomes a target during putting practice. Here, the target block 20 is made of bar type nature wood of height of 4 cm, width of 5 cm, and length of 15 cm for harmonization with respect to an indoor ornamental decoration. When the golf-putted ball collides with the target block 20, collision sound is heard to thereby enable the trainee golfer to judge whether or not the golf ball has been accurately hit to the target block 20 through an auditory sense not a visionary sense.

In addition, an effective target portion 22 made of a fabric material of thickness of 2 mm, width of 4 cm, and length of 1 cm is attached on the central portion of the target surface 21 of the target block 20. Accordingly, when the golf ball is hit to the effective target portion 22, a collision sound is not heard or sounds feeble. As a result, the trainee golfer may feel auditorily whether or not an accurate golf putting operation is performed.

The lower end portion on the front surface of the target block 20 is chamfered as shown as a reference numeral 23 in FIGS. 1 and 3. In the case that the target block 20 is installed in order to closely contact a wall corner as shown in FIG. 3, the target block 20 may be prevented from closely contacting the wall corner due to a molding “m” located on the wall corner.

Meanwhiles, it is preferable that the mirror 30 is formed of a size of enabling a trainee golfer to see his or her full body. The mirror 30 may be installed on the wall of a building as shown in FIG. 3, or may be installed erect by an additional mount support stand 31 as shown in FIG. 1. Here, the mirror 30 is used to make the trainee golfer to check his or her putting attitude and an alignment state of his or her body. Accordingly, the mirror 30 is installed leaning toward the trainee golfer. More accurately, it is preferable that the mirror 30 is installed to make the virtual golf putting line 11 coincide with the inner side surface of a vertical frame 30 a formed at one side of the mirror 30.

As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to a particularly preferred embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, an indoor golf putting training apparatus according to the present invention employs a flat and extensive mat and a collimating measure which can make a trainee golfer perform an accurate golf putting operation. Accordingly, the present invention enables the trainee golfer to concentrate to practice a short-distance golf putting within 200 cm, to thus make the trainee golfer accurately succeed in a golf putting operation with the eyes closed. Therefore, the present invention provides an effect of making trainee golfers learn a basic knowledge with respect to a short-distance golf putting.

In addition, since the indoor golf putting training apparatus according to the present invention is simple in its structure and light in its weight, it can be easily installed in or removed from a resident space or office. Accordingly, users may conveniently handle the indoor golf putting training apparatus. Further, the price of the indoor golf putting training apparatus is low, that is, inexpensive. 

1. An indoor golf putting training apparatus comprising: a golf putting pad having a flat and extensive surface, which comprises: a first golf putting reference point which is formed at the rear side of a virtual golf putting line in the lengthy direction; a collimating point which is formed on the virtual golf putting line at the front of the first golf putting reference point; a collimating line which connects the first golf putting reference point and the collimating point; and a second golf putting reference point which is formed at the rear side of the first golf putting reference point in order to perform a high-level golf putting operation; a target block made of a hard material, which is installed at the most leading position of the virtual golf putting line on the golf putting pad; an effective target portion made of a sound absorption material, which is installed at the central portion of the target surface of the target block; and a stand-alone erect mirror which is located at the front line of the golf putting pad.
 2. The indoor golf putting training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the golf putting pad is made of a PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) material which is used as a laminated floor paper.
 3. The indoor golf putting training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target block is made of nature wood, and the effective target portion is made of a fabric material.
 4. The indoor golf putting training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower end portion on the front surface of the target block is chamfered.
 5. The indoor golf putting training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mirror is erect by a mount support stand.
 6. The indoor golf putting training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the most leading end of the golf putting pad to the first golf putting reference point is 2 m-2 m 10 cm, the length of the collimating line is 20 cm-30 cm, and the distance from the first golf putting reference point to the second golf putting reference point is 60 cm.
 7. The indoor golf putting training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the collimating line and the first and second golf putting reference points are discolored or erased, a restoring line which is a reference line for restoring the collimating line and the first and second golf putting reference points into the original states is formed at the most leading position of the virtual golf putting line and the last position of the virtual golf putting line, respectively. 